David iiilderley



(No Model.)

D. HILDERLEY. SHOE TONGUB SUPPORTBR.

No. 583,803. Patented June 1,1897

THE Ncnms PETERS Moni-niko.; WASHINGTQN. a c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID HILDERLEY, OF BARTOW, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN WV. KABER, OF SAME PLACE.

SH-OE-TONGUE SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION formingvpart of Letters Patent No. 583,803, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed February 29, 1896. Serial No. SSLS/ 15. (No model.)

Y0 CLZZ wmm t may cou-cern..-

Be it known that I, DAVID HILDERLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bartow, in the county of Polk and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Tongue Supporter, of which the following' is a speciiication.l

The object of this invention is to preserve the shape of lace-shoes when worn to prevent the slipping of the tongue to one side or the other or down upon the instep; to obviate the gaping of the fly and exposing the stocking; to exclude dirt, wet, and other foreign matter; to avoid the crowding of the tongue into the toe of the shoe, and, lastly, to obviate the discomfort attendant upon loose tongues in laceshoes an d to devise a simple means which can be applied to the tongue to be enga-ged -by the lace so asto secure the tongue against accidental displacement and which will attain the desired ends in an effective manner without creating any pressure upon the foot or adding materially to the cost of the shoe or detracting from its appearance.

rlhe improvement consists of an arched bar or wire extending lengthwise of the tongue and secured at its ends thereto. cific construction thearched bar or wire is formed at its ends with eyes to receive the fastenings'or eyelets employed for attaching it to the tongue, and to provide a substantial device the latter is struck from sheet metal, the bar having heads atl its ends which are apertured to receive the eyelets or fastenings.

The improvement consists, furthermore, of certain details and novel features which hereinafter will be more particularly referred to and claimed, and is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a detail view of a lace-shoe, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the tongue, having the supporter applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail section of the tongue, showing the In its sperelative disposition of the supporter. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the device or supporter.

Corresponding and like parts are designated in the following description and the views of the accompanying drawings by the saine reference-characters.

The invention 'in its general application is designed for lace-shoes of all makes, styles, and patterns in which the iy is closed by a tongue or an equivalent part, the device being secured to the part provided for closing the fly.

The supporter l is arched or curved between its ends and is placed lengthwise of the tongue 2 and attached thereto at its ends and is either a bar or wire and is provided at its extremities with eyes 3Which receive the fastenings or eyelets 4, by means of which the device is attached to the tongue.

In the preferable construction the supporter is struck from sheet metal of proper gage, the eyes 3 being formed at the sainev time that the device is out. This construction admits of the device being manufactured in quantities and at a minimum cost, and enables it to lie close to the foot without in j uring the latter or detracting from the appearance of the shoe. When struck up from sheet metal, the supporter is formed with heads 5 at its ends, and these heads are apertured to provide the eyes 3. By curving or arching the device a space is formed between it and the tongue for the passage of the lace 6, and the device will bear against the foot at its terminals onl y, and as th ese terminals are expanded by the provision of the heads 5 the bearing-surface is extended over a large area, thereby preventing any lcallous formation upon the foot or other injury thereto. Moreover, by forming the supporter in the manner set forth the middle portion can be sufficiently light, so as t-o spring or yield, thereby giving to the foot in its various movements:

The shoe '7 is laced in the usual way, and prior to completing the lacing the ends of the lace are crossed and passed through the space formed between the tongue and the supporter. rHence when closing the fly by drawing the ends of the lace taut the tongue will be straightened and will be caused to occupy Ioo a central position between the edges of the upper, and will be heldin such position while the shoe is worn, thereby preventing the creeping to one side or the other or down-` is essential that it be arranged lengthwise of the tongue or in a direction parallel with the fly, so as to come between the edges of the upper when the shoe is laced.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. In a lace-shoe; the combination with the tongue or closure for the fly, of a supporter comprising an arched'or curved bar arranged lengthwise of the tongue and secured at its extremities thereto, and adapted to receive the lace, substantially inthe manner and for the purpose described.

2. In a lace-shoe, the combination with the tongue, of a supporter comprising an arched bar having eyes at its extremities to receive the fastenings by means of which the supporter is attached to the tongue, and `having a space between the arched portion of the bar and the opposing side of the tongue through which the lace passes, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

3. In a lace-shoe, the combination with the tongue, of a supporter comprising a bar having heads at its ends formed with eyes and having the middle portion arched, and eyelets or 'fastenings for securing the supporter to the tongue, the supporter being arranged lengthwise and about centrally of the tongue and having a space formed between its arched portion and the `tongue to receive the lace, substantially in the manner set forth for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID IIILDERLEY.

IVit-nesses:

VARREN TYLER, C. L. IIunDLnsToN. 

